Duke Energy bumped up its contributions to the Republican Governors Association last year. A campaign watchdog group says this happened just as the utility became mired in coal ash problems. The watchdog group, Democracy North Carolina, said Duke Energy was the association's top corporate donor in 2014. The group reported the contributions, and they were verified by the Charlotte Observer.

In June, Duke Energy gave the association almost three hundred thousand dollars. This was three months after the coal ash spill in February. Three more donations followed last year, totaling a little over $3 million dollars. This was more than ten times Duke's previous annual high total to the group.

Duke Energy contributed to Gov McCrory's 2012 election campaign. McCrory is a former Duke executive who is expected to seek re-election in 2016. 

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